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Oak Creek — After consulting with a regional representative from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs on Thursday night, the Oak Creek Town Board opted to proceed with filing grant applications to fund a water meter study for the town and make needed repairs to Oak Creek's water storage tank.

After receiving advice from Greg Winkler, DOLA's regional field manager for the north-central mountains, the town will seek an energy and mineral impact grant for a water meter feasibility study and a Community Development Block Grant for the water tank repairs.

The town's water storage tank had structural damage above and below ground, and the interior is deteriorating as well, Trustee David Fisher said.

"It's crumbling," Fisher said.

The community development grant could not only cover the water tank repairs, which were estimated to be as much as $1.3 to $1.8 million, but also a pressure-reducing valve for Oak Creek's water treatment plant.

The Town Board directed staff to work with DOLA to complete the applications in March for the April granting cycle.

Based on the town's financial condition, Winkler said the town probably could get the energy impact grant for the water meter feasibility study with less than the normally required 50 percent match and funds for the tank repairs with little or no match.

Oak Creek budgeted $5,000 this year for the water meter feasibility study. A recent estimate by water meter consultant Webb Jones, of the Steamboat Springs-based Water Consulting Group, priced such an exploration at just less than $15,000.

Winkler also recommended that Oak Creek contact the Colorado Center for Community Development at the University of Colorado-Denver, which make interns available to small towns, for help developing a capital improvement program and outlining the town's wish list.

"I think one of the things that faces Oak Creek, like lots of little towns, is that there's a lot of needs, but they're never really compiled anywhere, even if they're generally known," Winkler said. Developing a capital improvement program can help the town keep track of its infrastructure needs, prioritize them, and save for future projects, Winkler said.

South Routt Community Center contract amended

The Town Board also amended contracts for ongoing accessibility improvements to the South Routt Community Center, to accommodate needed electric work that became apparent during the construction.

In October, the Town Board signed a $137,000 contract with Blue Water Development to replace the second floor's former winding wheelchair ramp with a heated walkway and parking. During construction, it was learned that the building's outdated electrical panel could not handle the in-ground heating and would have to be replaced.

The additional cost, just shy of $8,000, will be covered by the energy impact grant funds for the original project, Town Clerk Karen Halterman said.

The Town Board also renewed Oak Creek Liquor's liquor license and approved a land use change of minor impact for Cheryl's Country Station, pending submission of a written snow storage and removal plan approved by the town's public works department. Owners Tim and Cheryl Carl plan to relocate the building's restrooms and combine the building's two retail spaces into a single convenience store and deli, Tim Carl said Thursday.

The back half of the building previously has served as an auto parts store, lumber yard and arcade, according to the land use application.

The board also agreed to renew a previous agreement with the Routt County Foundation for Senior Citizens, to waive water/sewer rates for vacant apartments at Aspen View Manor.

Paid moderator secured for Tuesday's police forum

The Town Board also granted the police focus group $300 for a paid moderator for Tuesday's police forum.

Focus group member Ann Trout said the board was unable to find a qualified volunteer to run the meeting, but that Steamboat Springs resident Mike Forney was willing to help the group plan the discussion and lead it for a $300 fee.

A trained moderator will be "invaluable" to keep Tuesday's forum productive, Mayor Pro-Tem Wendy Gustafson said.

A smaller forum held in September with Oak Creek business owners was very difficult to moderate, because of the sensitivity of the issue, and Tuesday's forum could be even more difficult because of the crowd expected, Trustee Gerry Greenwood said.